Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-06-10
avashin9tuu Standard
THEH0UsE ON THE MARSH;
THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
CHAPTER L
DY YLoRENCH WARDI1l.

CHAPTER L J
"Wanted, q Governess; must be
young" cut out the advertisement
thus headed eagerly from the Times. l
was eighteen, and my youth had been
the great obstacle to my getting IN en-
gagement; now here was some delight
ful advertiser who considered 1t an ad-
vantage. wrote to the address given,
and within a week I was travelling
down to Geldham, Norfolk, engaged to
teach lone little girl, aged six" at
salary of thirty-five pounds a year. The
correspondence had been carried on by
my future pupils father, who said he
would meet me at the station at Bea-
consburgh. the market-town nearest to
Geldham.
1t was about five o'clock on an after
noon in early August that sat at the
window of the railway carriage as the
train steamed into Beaconsburgh sta
ton. Hooked out on to the platform.
At one end there were two young men
engaged in securing large mastiff. I
got out and spoke to the station-m master
There is Mr.. Rayner himself,
ma'am," said he, pointing toward the
two young men with the dog.
One of them was now looking about,
as if in search of somebody; and 1
walked timidly toward him. He raised
his hat.
miss Christiee'' he said. growing
very red:
"Yes," said I, bowling and blushing
too.
is your luggage?'
Twas surprised to find Mr.. Rayner so
much younger and less self-possessed
than I had expected. I followed him
and pointed out my boxes.
1.-The dog-cart is waiting outside, "
said he, "let me carry your bag"
followed him through the station.
He helped me into the dog-cart and
then stood by the head of the brown
mare. was trying to get over my be-
wilderment. OF course I might have
known the father of my six-year-old
pupil would not be the middle-aged,
gray-haired man I had pictured; but
for him to appear not more than foul
and twenty was q surprise. He left thu
mare and stood by me. We fell into &
conversation, in which he expressed the
wish that Iwould not find my duties il
the schopl-room irksome, remarkine
that he had always hated school.
'Ihopc your daughter docs not shar,
her fathers dislike of school," broke
out, anxiously.
He started and looked up at me, col
oring windy, and then said:
Ibid you take me for Mr.. Rayner
Ny name il Reade. Mrs. Rayner sen
her brougham for you; but . Wagon
ran into it and took one of the wheel
of; 80 put my cart at your disposal
Hope you don't mind driving in thin
like thisp"
'1Oh, moi" said.
THAT was Mr.. Rayner on the plat
form with me-" he went on. His do,
rushed out just - the train came up
and he asked me to see to your luggag
while he held him. don't know VIII
he 10 % long"
A. he spoke, Mr.. Rayner himsel
came out of the station. / saw that b
was . few years older than my com
panion. and bore the impress Of tow
breeding as clearly as Mr.. Reade di
that Of the country. He was slight
we'll made, with delicate features and
dark golden beard and mustache. H
came up and shook hands with me
apologizing for his delay, and express
ing the hope that his sprightly youn
friend had entertained me we'll.
miss Christie took me for you, MI
Rayner," said Mr.. Reade, shyly red
dening again.
'.And has now to suffer the awfr
disappointment of finding that MI
Rayner Is an old fogy, after all. Nov
Laurence, my boy, If you want Us (
get home before the mist rises, we ha
better start"
Mr.. Rayner sprung up behind; NJ
Reade got up in front by my side an
took the rcins; and off we started. w
had to drive right through Beaconl
burgh; down long hill lined with th
dreary old houses Of the elite of . pr
vincial town; over q small bridge, an
then along two miles of straight wi
low-b0rdered road over marsh. Th
scenery was not particularly pretty
but had never lived in the conntr
and everything was new and interes
ing to mo. Gf
Elbow beautifully green everythin
H." remarked. presently.
"Yes, rather too green" Mr.. Read
reioined, ruefully. 1--WE have had
vet summer, and now we are going I
have wet autumn, I believe, and tn
place win be nothing but . swamp"
Don't cot Miss Christie against Il
place. Laurence" said Mr.. Raynel
We passed through . low-lying vi
lage-some Of the houses Of whic
were flooded in winter. Mr.. Reade tol
meeup . hill, down hill, and up n
other sloping road. At the side Of whic
stretched the marsh again.
There Is the Alders, Miss Christie,
said he, pointing to pretty red hous
half covered with ivy and surrounde
BY trees, which stood on the borders
the marsh.
"What . lovely place" I cried. CT
Enthusiastically.
Ny companion remained silent.
"And Oh, what q beautiful pond!
do believe it has water-lilies! and no
delightfully."- cool the house looks, wit
Ivy Al over it to keep out the hot sun!
"Yes, and to keep in the cold moia
ure, Miss Christie. That ivy ought
be torn down to make the place fit
live in. It is no better than . pea
house!' he went on, getting more ar
more excited. II wouldn't let . labo
Or live in it!''
"A laborer won't have . chan
until my lease Is up. Laurence, So
Mr.. Rayner, dryly, coming out Of
path among the trees. And the tv
men exchanged looks which Shove
that Ut the bottom of their hearts tn
were not friends.
We drove slowly down to the hal
door, which was open. and . gaun
untidy -looking servant came out Al
carried in my boxes.
Mr.. Reade helped me down and stot
BY me. apparently examining the hs
ne0. Then he seized moment, Wit